Patents Examined by James L. Dwyer
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Patent number: 5745563Abstract: A subscriber line circuit for a telephone network having current controlled switches and current sources. Methods of making and using the components are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1992Date of Patent: April 28, 1998Assignee: Harris CorporationInventor: John S. Prentice
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Patent number: 5619569Abstract: A coil cord snarl preventing device comprising, in part, a substantially circular hollow body and an operably joined coil cord fastening member (composed of a somewhat flexible, resilient material such as a low density plastic polyethylene plastic) having an opening through which one end of a retractable coil cord item is slidably inserted thence traversing the entire length of the hollow body, interiorly, and exiting an outlet end thus mostly eliminating tangling conditions commonly associated with coil cord products, thereby preventing a dropping and damaging of telephone base and handset products because of snarled coil cords. The device also enjoys strong advertising or promotional capabilities because of its mountable proximity to the vast number of telephonic units in use universally.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1995Date of Patent: April 8, 1997Inventor: Clifford R. McVay
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Patent number: 5553131Abstract: The present invention is directed to a billing system which provides the most cost-effective long-distance telephone service for long-distance telephone calls made by an account by analyzing long-distance telephone calls in the aggregate, comparing the cost thereof between at least two different providers, and charging the account based on the lowest cost. Providers of long-distance telephone services aggregate those long-distance telephone calls for which an account is responsible and determine the cost of service based either on mileage or aggregate time. In a first embodiment, the billing system compares the costs of service associated with two different service plans, both of which determine the cost of service based on mileage. In a second embodiment, the billing system compares the costs of service associated with two different service plans, one which determines the cost of service based on mileage, the other of which determines the cost of service based on aggregate time.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 1993Date of Patent: September 3, 1996Assignee: Mountain International CorporationInventors: Richard J. Minervino, Jr., Charles J. Veranis, Anthony J. Andrade
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Patent number: 5519770Abstract: An enhanced services unit for connection to existing exchanges is described. The unit is connected via an exchange emitting CCITT common channel signaling system #7 (CCSS#7) trunk connections to an existing exchange and is viewed by the exchange as another exchange. The unit may control switching via re-entrant trunks on the main exchange. Services are software defined and may be configured to suit particular customers. An advantageous implementation of the message transfer part of CCSS#7 is also described.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 1993Date of Patent: May 21, 1996Assignee: Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation LimitedInventor: Calvin J. Stein
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Patent number: 5517553Abstract: This invention relates to a wireless communication system, which comprises plural wireless communication units having different communication protocols, and in which a proper wireless communication unit is automatically selected from the plural wireless communication units in accordance with the operation states of the plural wireless communication units to make communication possible. Thereby, troublesome operation is not required, an optimum wireless communication method can be automatically selected, and communication cost can be reduced. In the wireless communication system of the present invention, when mobile stations are registered in a fixed station, preferential orders of the mobile stations are stored, and calling/call-reception and communication processings are controlled according to the preferential orders.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1993Date of Patent: May 14, 1996Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hideaki Sato
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Patent number: 5488657Abstract: Existing automatic log on/log off systems in telephone systems determine whether or not a workstation is occupied, and that calls can be directed to that workstation, by determining whether or not the amplifier that provides the interface between the telephone system and the occupant's headset is plugged into the workstation. Recent headsets have a connector in the cord between the headset and the amplifier. This enables the occupant to leave the workstation without unplugging the amplifier, which defeats sensing mechanism of the existing automatic log on/log off system. An amplifier according to the invention replaces the existing amplifier and includes a detector that determines whether the headset is connected to the amplifier, and an activator that activates the existing automatic log on/log off system in the telephone system.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1993Date of Patent: January 30, 1996Assignee: ACS Communications, Inc.Inventors: Dwight D. Lynn, Kirk A. Reid, Shu-Ren Chen
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Patent number: 5485516Abstract: A line termination of a telephone line includes a regulating transistor connected between conductor terminals of the telephone line. A termination circuit has an amplifier receiving an alternating voltage of the telephone line and a reference voltage, for generating an output correcting variable controlling the regulating transistor. A regulating configuration generates a regulated supply voltage for the termination circuit. A regulating circuit readjusts a conductor voltage of the output correcting variable of the amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1993Date of Patent: January 16, 1996Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Jorg Hauptmann
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Patent number: 5479505Abstract: This invention discloses a telephone network interface enclosure comprising a telephone company compartment having a cover therefor and a telephone subscriber compartment having a cover therefor. A network termination module containing a protector element is disposed in the network interface enclosure. One end of the network termination module is secured in the telephone subscriber compartment while the other end is secured in the telephone company compartment.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1992Date of Patent: December 26, 1995Assignee: Siecor Puerto Rico, Inc.Inventors: Walter K. Butler, Mark P. Cote, John J. Napiorkowski, Thomas W. Kroll, Boyd G. Brower, N. Peter Mickelson
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Patent number: 5475745Abstract: A method and apparatus for holding a line busy from which a party has disconnected and providing an indication to the other party that the first party has hung up. The invention operates by receiving a call in a telephone switching office from a first subscriber on an incoming line destined for a second subscriber, storing an indication signal signifying that the call has been received; in case the first subscriber has hung up, accessing the indication signal, and as a result sending a signal to the second subscriber which is indicative that the first subscriber has hung up. Such systems are useful in emergency call handling systems, such as 911 emergency call systems.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1991Date of Patent: December 12, 1995Assignee: Mitel CorporationInventor: Stephen J. Boyle
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Patent number: 5465290Abstract: The invention provides a distributed information processing system for verifying the identities of telephone callers, in which data is stored in a first processing station and signal processing is performed by one or more speaker verification units located at one or more respective second, remote processing stations. The first processing station is arranged for storing data corresponding to a signature and to caller identification information for respective users. The second processing station or stations each include a speaker verification unit and a processor. The speaker verification unit is adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a voice and/or touch-tone signal representing a signature of a possible user, and for digitally signal processing the signal representing the signature.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1993Date of Patent: November 7, 1995Assignee: Litle & Co.Inventors: Thomas H. Hampton, Thomas J. Litle, IV, Nigel H. Searle
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Patent number: 5465294Abstract: A telephone disaster recovery process for quickly re-establishing long distance telephone service to a telephone LEC office after a telephone central office connected to the LEC office has been rendered inoperable by a disaster is described. The central office is located at a disaster site. The process operates by assessing the disaster and identifying elements of an on-site component needed to address the disaster. The elements of the on-site component are transported to the disaster site, and are mapped to corresponding elements of the inoperable central office. These elements of the on-site component are configured and interconnected according to the mapping to enable the on-site component to functionally emulate the inoperable central office. Then, the on-site component is connected to the LEC office, and is also connected to an off-site component using communication media in a long distance telephone network.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1994Date of Patent: November 7, 1995Assignee: AT&T Corp.Inventors: John M. Chapman, Jr., David N. Decker, Sondra L. Diles, Nicholas P. DeVito, William C. Leach, Richard Lechner, Allen D. Langham, Willard R. Manning, Thomas R. Ryan, Edward J. Smith, William C. Thompson, Jr., Robert Yursis
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Patent number: 5461670Abstract: A telephone subscriber system comprising a speech circuit and a ring circuit adapted to be integrated monolithically to a semiconductor material substrate and being coupled to a telephone subscriber line, respectively through first and second circuit switch of the diode bridge type, further comprises a first circuit changeover switch, under control by the user, which drives at least second and third circuit switching means connected between the first diode bridge circuit and the speech circuit. The third circuit changeover switch is connected to the speech and ring circuits at a circuit communication node which forms the system point of reference, physically coincident with the substrate. The system includes a circuit interface means for controlling the second and third circuit changeover switch by external electrical signals which are related to the circuit communication node.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1993Date of Patent: October 24, 1995Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, S.r.l.Inventors: Pietro Consiglio, Carlo Antonini, Gianpietro Vanalli
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Patent number: 5461663Abstract: A selective call receiving apparatus with a display for receiving and displaying its own selective call number and message information attached to it, displaying time while waiting for a call to be received and displaying the message information added with a receiving time. The selective call receiving apparatus with a display comprises a comparing unit for comparing the message information with preset individual message information and for producing a coincidence signal when both items of information have coincided, a clock time setting unit which operates based on the coincidence signal from the comparing unit, and a display unit for displaying an output from the clock time setting unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1993Date of Patent: October 24, 1995Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takamasa Motegi
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Patent number: 5461665Abstract: A voice processing system coupled to a plurality of telephones, each having a mailbox, for communicating with callers to the telephones. The voice processing system is capable of recording, manipulating and transferring voice messages to and from each mailbox. Mailbox and message status information can be audibly announced to a caller having a valid access code.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 1993Date of Patent: October 24, 1995Assignee: Executone Information Systems, Inc.Inventors: Shlomo Shur, Dennis E. McPhillips
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Patent number: 5459783Abstract: An acoustic feedback suppression device, particularly for auxiliary ringers in plug-in telephone systems, includes diodes in addition to a rectifier bridge of the ringer. The circuit provides direct-current decoupling and limits the AC voltage present across the auxiliary ringer.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 1993Date of Patent: October 17, 1995Assignee: SGS-Thompson Microelectronics S.A.Inventors: Pietro Consiglio, Carlo Antonini
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Patent number: 5459786Abstract: Controlled by a signal level produced by a microphone (12), a noise suppressing circuit (25) supplies a first attenuator (16) with a local level which is equal to the signal level and is suppressed to a predetermined output level when the signal level is lower and higher than a predetermined input level. Cooperating with a drive level produced by a second attenuator (17) to drive a loudspeaker (13), the local level makes a comparator unit (21-23) produce a control signal for making the first attenuator give smaller and greater amounts of attenuation to the signal level with the drive level rendered by the second attenuator low and high when positive and negative values are had, respectively, by an input difference equal to the local level less the drive level. Preferably, the local level is suppressed by a level difference had by the signal level above the predetermined input level.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1994Date of Patent: October 17, 1995Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Yutaka Tomiyori, Tadashi Eguchi
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Patent number: 5459787Abstract: A circuit for synthesizing an impedance associated with a telephone subscriber's circuit connected to a two-wire telephone line is described. The circuit of the invention is adapted to synthesize a complex impedance which can function both as a termination impedance and a balance impedance. The termination impedance utilizes a positive feedback loop structure having a loop gain which is at all times less than unity. The circuit that implements both the termination and balance impedances with sidetone suppression is also described. Each of the embodiments is realizable with a single external component consisting of a resistor.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1993Date of Patent: October 17, 1995Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Luciano Tomasini, Rinaldo Castello, Pietro Erratico
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Patent number: 5457742Abstract: A telephone remote control system for direct control of the dialing sequence of a telephone from a personal computer. The remote control system includes an RF transmitter unit mounted on a personal computer and an RF receiver unit within a phone. The transmitter receives dialing commands from a personal computer and transmits those commands to a receiver unit via an RF signal. The receiver unit receives the dialing commands from the transmitter unit and directly controls the dialing sequence of the telephone.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1993Date of Patent: October 10, 1995Assignee: Datalogic CorporationInventors: George W. Vallillee, James F. MacKay
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Patent number: 5457741Abstract: The arrangement is such that to a transmission apparatus of the subscriber side in a subscriber transmission system wherein the transmission apparatus of the subscriber side which serves a plurality of subscribers and a transmission apparatus connected to a switching system are connected to each other via multiplexed transmission lines, there are provided memories to store originating and terminating call signals, and a controller not only to control so that only subscriber transmitter-receivers corresponding to a specific number of subscribers in the subscriber transmitter-receivers for transmitting and receiving signals of subscribers enter an operating state, but also to cause the memories to operate, so that electric power is supplied only to circuits corresponding to a specific number of subscribers in the transmission apparatus of the subscriber side by controlling through the controller when the rate of telephone use is low.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 1994Date of Patent: October 10, 1995Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventor: Toshiaki Sonobe
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Patent number: 5457743Abstract: A channel unit network for interconnecting a two-wire, bidirectional signal transmitting means with a four-wire digital transmitting means in a communication system to create a precision bidirectional simulated two-wire cable pair over a transmission medium includes tip and ring switch mode drivers, a signal processing circuit, a decoupling circuit, and tip and ring balance amplifiers. The decoupling circuit is used for splitting off "voice band" frequency signals from incoming tip and ring "DC band" signals from the two-wire means. The signal processing circuit performs both analog-to-digital conversions and digital-to-analog conversions.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1993Date of Patent: October 10, 1995Assignee: Tollgrade Communications, Inc.Inventor: Frederick J. Kiko